Maroons Advance To Semifinals With 1-0 Win

action photo of RC field hockey midfielder Caroline Diehl
RC defeated RMC 1-0 in the ODAC FH Quarterfinals

The Basics ODAC Field Hockey Quarterfinals
Score: #4 Roanoke 1 | #5 Randolph-Macon 0

Records: Maroons 11-7 / 5-3 ODAC | Yellow Jackets 9-9 / 4-4 ODAC
Location: Salem, Va.

The Lead: After defeating Randolph-Macon, 1-0, in Ashland on Saturday, Roanoke welcomed the Yellow Jackets to Kerr Stadium on Tuesday for a quarterfinal matchup in the 2021 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Field Hockey Tournament. The rematch would remain scoreless heading into the fourth quarter of play. Off a Penalty Corner, the Maroons were able to break the tie for a one-goal advantage. Roanoke held on for the final 12 minutes to secure a berth in the ODAC Semifinals with another 1-0 win over Randolph-Macon.  

Highlights:

  • Roanoke spent most of the first quarter in the Yellow Jacket zone and despite enjoying an 8-0 shot edge, the game was scoreless after one period of play.
  • The second frame would be more ball control by the Maroons, 5-1 shot advantage, but thanks to nine, first half, RMC saves the game would be scoreless heading into the break.
  • After a trio of shots by Roanoke, Randolph-Macon got a three scoring chances but a pair of saves by Hope Keller and Madison Wingerter kept the game tied heading into the final 15 minutes of play.
  • With 12 minutes remaining, Roanoke was awarded their eighth Penalty Corner of the game. Martha Hurley put the ball into play. After a couple of passes, Grace Vernarelli sent the ball towards the cage where it found the stick of Caroline Diehl and the tie was broken with Roanoke taking a 1-0 advantage.
  • The Maroons would allow just a pair of Yellow Jacket shots the rest of the way with one being blocked and the other sailing wide as the Maroons advanced to the semifinal round for the fifth consecutive season.
  • The win for the Maroons marked the 100th win for head coach Briana Banks.

Up next: Roanoke will have to travel to top ranked Washington and Lee for a semifinal matchup on Thursday, time TBA.